Merchants in Tehran's busy marketplaces have shut their doors in protest against a 70% increase in the income tax.Los Angeles Times: By some accounts, the bazaar protest is gathering momentum. In response to the growing demonstrations, increasing numbers of police are stationed not only around the bazaar but in various points throughout Tehran.Authorities have also shut down the bazaar, declaring Sunday, ordinarily a bustling work day, an impromptu holiday because of the hot weather in an attempt to mask over the strike.On Sunday, subways heading to the bazaar were relatively empty. Whole swaths of the market were shut down"I am still continuing my strike," said Ali, a cloth merchant. "I may keep shut on Monday too."He said his annual taxes were jumping from about $1,700 to $4,700 despite slow business.News websites said authorities arrested the head of the union of fabric traders in Tehran's old bazaar for allegedly speaking to merchants through a loudspeaker to...(Read Full Post)